Timing mechanism for races



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

0' A. NEWBAKER. TIMING MEGHANISM FOR RAGES.

Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

FIG. I.

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- Patented Oct. 1-3, 1896,.

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(NO Model.)

0 A NEWBAKER TIMING MECHANISM FOR RACES.

Patented Oct. 13. 1896..

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4 Sheets--Sheet 4.

TIMING MECHANISM FOR RACES.

Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

I MHMI Att'I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. NEVVBAKER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIMING MECHANISM 'FOR RACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,296, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed February 25, 1896. Serial No. 580,710. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. NEVVBA- KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Timing Horses, of which improvements the following is aspecification.

The invent-ion described herein relates to certain improvements in mechanism for timing horses, and has for its object an electrically-controlled clock mechanism adapted to be set in operation by the making or breaking of a circuit on the passage of the first horse or sulky drawn by the horse across a predetermined line and to be stopped by breaking or making of the same circuit on the completion of the race.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for the starting of the clock in the first make or break of the circuit, but to require two or more subsequent makes or breaks of the circuit to stop the clock, thereby adapting my improvement for use on half-mile or shorter tracks or for timing races of more than a mile on mile tracks.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device, showing the several dials employed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the several circuits.

In the practice of my invention a suitable motor having a regular predetermined speed, such as a clock-spring and controlling-escapement', is attached to the shaft 1. On the shaft is mounted one member 2 of a clutch mechanism in such manner as to revolve with the shaft, but to be capable of movement along, in order that it may be shifted into and out of engagement with the other member 2 of the clutch mechanism. The member 2"" is secured on a shaft 3, one end of which projects through the dial-face 4, and on such projecting end is fastened a hand 5. The shaft 3 is driven by the motor at a predetermined speed, as, for example, at a rate of one revolution per second, and the dial A,

over which the hand 5 moves, is marked in such manner that the hand may indicate any desired fraction of a second, as, for example, fifths or tenths. The hub of the memher 2 of the clutch is provided with a groove for the reception of the prongs on the end of the lever 6, on which is secured the armature 7 of the electromagnet 8, whereby the lever and the clutch member 2 are shifted to cause the latter to engage the other clutch member 2. The reverse movement of the lever and clutch member 2 is effected by a spring 9.

On the shaft 3 is fastened a pinion 10, intermeshing with a gear-wheel 11 on the shaft 12,which, for convenience and on account of a function performed thereby, will be termed the reversing-shaft. This reversing-shaft is provided with a pinion l3, intermeshing with a gear-wheel 14 on the sleeve 15, which is mounted to revolve freely on the shaft 16. A pinion on the sleeve 15 intermeshes with a gear-wheel on the counter-shaft 17, which is provided with a pinion 18, intermeshing with a gear-wheel 19 011 the shaft 16.

One end of the sleeve 15 and shaft 16 projects through the dial-face, the end of the shaft projecting beyond the end of the sleeve. On the ends of the sleeve and shaft are secured hands 20 and 21, respectively, said hands traversing the dials B and 0, respectively. The train of gearing from the shaft 3 to the sleeve is so proportioned that the latter will move at the rate of one revolution a minute, and the dial B, over which the hand 20 traverses, is marked as the secondsdial of a watch.

The train of gearing from the sleeve 15 to the shaft 16 is proportioned to drive the latter at such a rate that the time required for one revolution will be greater than the lapsed time between the start and finish in any race to be recorded by the machine. In the construction shown the shaft 16 is driven at the rate of one revolution in ten minutes, and the dial O is suitably marked.

False starts frequently occur in racing, and in such cases it is necessary to return the several hands to the initial point on each dial. This reverse movement is effected by means of a coiled springI22, having one end attached to the reversingshaft 12 and the other to a part of the supporting-frame. This spring is arranged to be wound up by the normal operative movement of the mechanism, so that it may produce a reverse movement when free to act. In order to prevent the operation of the reversing-spring, when the motor is disengaged from the shaft 3, at the end of a race, a toothed whee Z3 is secured on the shaft 3, and a spring-pawl 21 is mounted on the frame to engage the toothed wheel in such manner as to permit the forward movement of the mechanism, butwill prevent a reversed movement. The pawl can be shifted from engagement with the toothed wheel by a lug 25, projecting through the face, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to stop the hands at the initial points, when reversed, the gearwheel 19 is provided with a pin 536, which will engage a stationary arm 27 as the hands reach initial position.

In applying my improved turning apparatus two wires 28 and 29 are arranged across the track in such proximity that a brush carried by an arm on the sulky will sweep across the wires and be in contact with both at the same time, thereby closing the circuit consisting of the wire 28, battery a, magnet 30, and wire 95). As the wires 28 and 29 are not connected, the circuit is normally open. 13y energizing magnet 30 its armature 31 is brought into contact with the point 32, thereby completing circuit consisting of one pole of battery b, wire 33, contact-ring 31 on the stationary insi'ilating-disk 35, arm 36, and brush 37, carried by said arm, which is fastened on shaft 17, contact-plate 38, wire 30, magnet 8, wire 10, contact-point 32, armature 31, to opposite pole of battery. The energizing of magnet 8 and the consequent movement of its armature shifts the lever 6 and brings the members 2 2 of the clutch mechanism into engagement, thereby starting the indicating mechanism. The lever 6 is held so as to maintain the members of the clutch in engagement by a projection on the spring-strip ll, passing behind an arm on the lever, although the circuit of magnet 8 is broken by reason of the shifting of the arm 36 from the contact-plate 38 on the first movement of the indicating mechanism.

It is preferred not to employ a retractingspring to shift the armature 31, for the reason that the circuit through magnet 30 is closed for such a short time that an immediate movement of the armature from the contact-point 32, and consequent rupture of the circuit of magnet 8, might not afford sufficient time to effect the shifting of lever 6. The movement of the armature 31 away from the contact-point 32, where it is held by residual magnetism, is effected bymeans of an arm +12 on the shaft 17, which, as the shaft revolves, knocks the armature back.

The release of the lever 0, so that it can be shifted by the spring 9 to separate the members of the clutch, is effected by the magnet 13, whose armature is attached. to or formed by the spring-strip 4:1. The circuit of mag net 13 is formed, startin from battery I), by wire contaet-ring 3i, brush 37, and arm 36, contact-strip is, wire 45, magnet l3, wires 16 and a0, contact-point and armature 31 to battery. As this circuit will be closed when the arm 30 reaches contact-strip et-i, provided the armature 81 has not been previou sly shifted by the arm said arm should be so adjusted on its shaft, with relation to the arm 36, that the arm 12 will knock the armature 31 from its contact-point before the arm 36 reaches the contact-strip ist. \Yhen employing my improvement on mile tracks, the strip should be so located on the insulating-disk 85 that the arm 30 will reach the strip in about two minutes after it has left the contact-plate 38. After the arm 36 reaches the strip -11 the circuit of magnet 13 is complete, except between the armature 31 and contact-point 32. This break is closed when the horses pass a second time under the wires 28 and 20, the brush on the sullcyclosing the circuit of magnet 30, which will then shift the armature 31 to close the circuit of magnet The energizing of magnet it? will eifect a shifting of the spring-strip ii to re lease the lever 6.

It will be understood that it is immaterial how soon contact is completed between the strip -11 and arm 30, provided that the arma ture 31 is previously shifted out of contact with the point 32, but in all cases the arm 3i; and strip 14 must be in contact at the end of the race. In applying my improvement to half-mile tracks, or tracks where two circuits are required for a race, the contact-strip should be so located that the arm 23b will not reach it until the horses have completed one circuit, as the circuit of magnet 80, which will be closed bythe passage of the sulky under the wires 28 and 29 and, further, the arm 42 should be adjusted so as to knock the armature 31 back after the first round by the horses and before the arm 36 reaches strip it.

As hereinbefore stated, it is desirable, in case of false starts, to reverse the mechanism to bring the hands to normal or initial POSl. tion. The reversal is effected by the spring on the reversingshaft; but in order that the reversing-spring may operate it is necessary not only to release the toothed wheel 52 3 from the pawl or detent 2 1, but also to disconnect the motor from the shaft 3. In order to release the lever 3 and permit its being shifted by the spring 9, a pull-rod i7 attached to the spring-strip 11 and extends down through the inclosing case. A pull on this red will release the lever, so that it can be shifted to separate the members of the clutch, thereby permitting the reversing-spring to operate as soon as the detent is shifted. As the armature 31 will remain, after "the circuit of mag net 30 has been closed, in contact with the point until shifted by the arm 42, and as this arm will not usually operate until after a OOllSlflOlftlllG portion of the race has been completed, it is evident that the circuit of magnet 8 Will be closed by the reversal of the mechanism to normal position, in Which position of the parts the arm 36 is in contact with the plate 38.

The closure of the circuit of magnet on reversal of the mechanism Will result in shifting the lever so as to cause the engagement of the clutch members and consequent immediate starting of the indicating mechanism. Hence it is necessary, in case of false starts, to shift the armature 31 from point 32. This can be done by attaching a light cord 48 to the armature and passing it out through a hole in the side of the inclosing case.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination of an indicating mechanism, a motor, a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor and indicating mechanism,

a magnet for shifting the clutch members to 7 closed position, a catch for holding the clutch members in closed position and a magnet for shifting the catch, the circuits for said magnets being adapted to be closed, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the race, on the passage of the horse past a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an indicating mechanism, a motor, a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor and indicating mechanism, a magnet controlling the engaging movement of the clutch mechanism, a circuit for said magnet, two make-and break mechanisms included in said circuit, one of which is operated by the indicating mechanism, a magnet for operating the other make-and-break mechanism, the circuit for said magnet being arranged so as to be closed on the passage of a horse past a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an indicating mechanism, a motor, a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor and indicating mechanism, two magnets, one controlling the closing and the other the opening movement of the clutch members,circuits for said magnets,two makeand-break mechanisms in each of said circuits, one of the make-and-break mechanisms in each circuit being operated by the indicating mechanism, a magnet for operating the other make-and-break mechanism in said circuits, the circuit for said magnet being arranged to be closed on the passage of a horse past a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination of an indicating mechanism, a motor, a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor and indicating mechanism, two magnets, one controlling the closing and the other the opening movement of the clutch members, circuits for said magnets, a magnet having its armature included in both of said circuits, a circuit for said magnet arranged to be closed on the passage of a horse past a predetermined point, a make-and-break mechanism in the circuits of the clutch-controlling magnets, and operated, in succession, by the indicating mechanism, and means for shifting the armature of the third magnet intermediate of the operation of the make-andbreak mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES A. NEVVBAKER. Witnesses:

M. S. MURPHY, E. NEWELL. 

